Becky gave Polly a questioning look and wondered how they had known that, and how much more they knew about the recent changes in her life.
As though reading her thoughts, Mallory said, “Your Uncle Steve thought we should know about your loss.”
Becky nodded. Uncle Steve was always looking out for her. Had he told them about Roger and Mandy, too? “Well, when my mum died, I felt like I’d lost my footing somehow. Like someone had changed the frequency on the radio, and all I could hear was static. I felt adrift, lost.”
Mallory, Polly and Elise sat in silence listening to Becky.
“We know what it’s like to lose a parent,” Elise said. “Well I lost my father. It was devastating; I adored that man.”
Even Monty, as though sensing Becky’s pain, sat himself down by her side, and rested his muzzle on her leg, his big eyes staring sadly up at her.
Becky reached down and stroked his head.
“It’ll get easier,” Polly said. “I promise.”
Elise smiled, nodding in agreement.
“Yes it will,” Mallory agreed. “Perhaps this New Year everything will turn around for you.”
“I hope you’re right,” Becky said with a heavy heart. She lowered her head. “I always thought that I knew what the future had in store for me, how it would all pan out, but I blinked, and in that split second, everything changed, and I found myself frozen to the spot, not sure what I should do next.”
“That was after your mother died?” Polly asked sympathetically.
Becky nodded, scratching an imaginary itch on her arm. She felt uncomfortable talking about herself. She was here to interview these women and talk about their lives, not talk about her problems, her life, her dreams, or the lack of them.
Mallory, as though reading Becky’s thoughts said, “The dreams we have when we are young don’t always work out, and it can be so easy to lose heart, dear. But sometimes the universe has other plans for us, and we realise that what we thought we wanted, the people we thought we wanted, aren’t what or who we wanted after all. Sometimes, when you think you are running away from something, you are actually running towards something new, something, or someone, better. And sometimes, when we least expect it, a brand new dream finds us. Of course it didn’t turn out for me that way, but that doesn’t mean it won’t turn out right for you, dear.”
A flock of sulphur-crested cockatoos took flight from the branches of a tall eucalyptus tree and winged their way noisily across the lake. Becky drew in a long breath, blinking back tears. She knew she had run away, and eventually she would have to go back and pick up the pieces of her broken dreams and start again. Apart from her job, Grandma and Uncle Steve, there was nothing else left to go back to. So far, the universe had not done a very good job when it came to her hopes and dreams. She looked away, running her tongue across her furry teeth, then screwed up her nose. It was the distraction she needed to rein in her corroding emotions. The last thing she wanted to do was break down and cry. She nodded, quickly wiping away a rogue tear, and then promptly changed the subject. “Will it be a formal dinner party?” she asked. “As in long evening dress and men in suits kind of formal dinner party?”
Polly nodded, then helped herself to a piece of bread, buttered it and took a bite. “We’re all looking forward to going all out and dressing up for a change. You don’t get many opportunities to dress up in this part of the world, which really doesn’t bother me. Give me a pair of shorts, runners, and a t-shirt any day.”
“Then I’ll need to buy a dress, because I know I didn’t pack anything anywhere near glamorous enough for a formal dinner party.” In fact, Becky wasn’t sure she was really in the mood to celebrate at all. Perhaps she could celebrate not being pregnant. Surely that was something definitely worth putting a long dress on for, and celebrating.
“I can take you to a couple of places in Cairns to look for something later in the week, if you like?” Elise offered.
“Thank you. That would be great. It doesn’t mean a trip down the Gillies, does it? I don’t think I’m ready for that just yet.”
Elise shook her head. “No Gillies. We’ll take the Kuranda Highway.”
Sitting in the passenger seat of Polly’s four-wheel drive a little while later, Becky watched as open green pastures dotted with cattle, then patches of dense rainforest slipped by through the passenger window. On the distant horizon, masses of rolling grey clouds were grouping conspiratorially. The morning had started off hot and humid, and it didn’t appear that it was going to cool down anytime soon. Much to Becky’s relief, the car was air-conditioned, guaranteeing the drive to Malanda would be a comfortable one. She looked out of the window at the lush, tropical surrounds and shook her head. She couldn’t believe that just hours ago she was freezing her butt off, surrounded by layers of depressing snow. The vast difference in climates was almost incomprehensible in her mind. It was as though she had hibernated midwinter, and had woken up in the spring. “We won’t be going on anymore of those steep, twisty roads today, will we? I would really hate to waste such a lovely breakfast.”
Polly peered through the windscreen and shook her head. “No, but it looks like we might be in for some serious rain later today. But then again, it might just go right around us, and miss us altogether.”
Becky followed Polly’s line of vision and stared at the ominous clouds up ahead of them, that were darkening by the second. “I hope you’re right. I’m looking forward to strolling around Malanda while you’re off picking up the chocolate and cheese from your supplier. I was also looking forward to a swim in the lake a little later, too. Then, weather permitting, sun baking on the pontoon. I can’t very well leave Australia and go home to London without a tan. I guess the rain would really ruin your plans for the grand opening, too.”
“Yes,” Polly agreed. “That would really put a damper on the festivities we have planned down by the lake.” Polly turned her head to shoot Becky a serious glance. “Just take it easy in the sun, okay? Our sun is a lot harsher than what you are used to,” she advised. “Elise was almost burned to a crisp, and could barely sit down for days on her first holiday to Cairns.”
Twenty-five Years Earlier.
“Hurry up, Mallory, or we’ll miss the boat,” Polly called over her shoulder as Mallory stumbled out of the car and struggled with her backpack. “What have you got in there, anyway, the bloody kitchen sink? It’s just a day trip, for goodness’ sake.”
“I just wanted to be prepared,” Mallory retorted, pulling the car door shut on Polly’s blue, hatchback Datsun, and jiggling the handle to make sure it was locked, while her backpack slid back off her shoulder and landed on the pavement at her feet.
“Prepared for what, a frigging invasion? Cairns is not in the middle of a war zone, or any zombie apocalypse, so hurry up, woman.” Polly walked back to her friend, while Elise checked her watch, and made sure she had all of their boarding passes for the umpteenth time.
“Well, just so you know, I happen to know that more bombs fell on Darwin during the Second World War than on Pearl Harbour-”
“That was a long time ago, and Darwin is a long way from Cairns, so I really don’t think you have anything to worry about,” Polly said, adjusting the backpack on Mallory’s back.
“Come on, you two, let’s go. We’ll actually have to run now, otherwise we really will miss the boat. And it’s too late to get a refund,” Elise said.
Mallory pulled the straps of her backpack securely in place and began to jog. “What about the Indonesian invasion on Timor? That was in the seventies. Not that long ago, when you think about it, and Darwin is not that far from Cairns.”
“Shut up,” Polly and Elise shouted at Mallory in unison.
Elise shook her head and started to sprint towards the jetty, her floral sarong flapping around her lily-white legs. “You’ve been googling and freaking yourself out again, haven’t you, Mal? I’m surprised you leave the house, let alone trust an aeroplane to fly you halfway across the
world.”
“I fly QANTAS, that’s how. The safest airliner in the world,” Mallory said, grinning.
“You’re an idiot. You know that, right, Rainman?” Polly laughed, grasping the strap of the large beach bag over her shoulder.
“Yeah, I know, but that’s why you love me,” Mallory gasped, worn out by all the running. “God, it’s bloody hot.” She wiped a slick of sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand.
“That is absolutely why we love you,” Polly replied. “And of course it’s hot, you’re in rainforest country now. The sunny tropics. She waved her hand around. Here, this is us,” she said, pointing towards a sleek Quicksilver yacht moored along the side of the Marlin Jetty in the heart of Cairns.
“Awesome,” Mallory said, slowing her pace as she drew up alongside Polly and Elise behind the line of passengers waiting to embark. “The boat is bigger than I thought it would be,” she said enthusiastically, gazing in awe at the forty-something metre Wavepiercer Catamaran as it towered above them.
“This is going to be magic,” Polly said, rubbing her hands together while gazing approvingly at a group of bare-chested guys in Hawaiian print board shorts, with towels draped over broad shoulders, ahead of them. “Mmm… Check out the eye candy, girls.”
Elise giggled. “Shh. They’ll hear you.”
Polly shrugged. “Who cares?” she said, smiling as a tall, fair-haired guy turned around, and then winked at her.
Mallory sighed. “Maybe this holiday is just what I needed. Thank you so much for talking me into coming.”
Elise and Polly turned to look at Mallory, a sad look on their faces.
“Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno,” Elise said, taking hold of Mallory’s hand and squeezing it tight.
Polly and Mallory exchanged sideways glances at each other, then turned to look at Elise.
“What does that mean?” Polly asked, looking perplexed.
“It means, one for all, and all for one, in Latin,” Elise replied. “I think that should be our go-to motto when things get tough, okay? God only knows how much you have both helped me when I needed someone to talk to.”
Polly nodded. “Agreed,” she said. “You both deserve some happiness after what you’ve endured over the last year. I don’t know if I could have handled what either of you have gone through.”
“Okay. One rule, though,” Mallory said. “No talking about last year on this trip, okay?” The look on her face was determined. Her lips were pressed tightly together in an unwavering line. Behind the concrete facade, an empty, black hole resided where her heart had once been.
Mallory held up an open hand above her head. “One for all, and all for one,” she said.
Polly and Elise reached up and grabbed hold of her hand, closing their fingers around Mallory’s fist. “One for all, and all for one,” the three women sang out in unison. The other passengers turned to stare at them, but they did not care. This was their moment.
“Okay,” Elise replied, nodding. “No more talking about last year, but let’s agree that no matter what happens from here on in, no matter where we end up, even if we lose touch for a while after this trip-”
“That will never happen,” Mallory cut in, her hand still gripped tight by Polly and Elise’s hands above her head.
“It might,” Polly replied, shrugging.
Mallory glared at Polly.
“Well, we might,” Polly retorted. “Shit happens.”
Elise turned from Polly to Mallory, giving them her serious appraisal, and then continued. “No matter what happens, what changes, no matter what life has in store for us, nothing will ever change to the point where we are not still friends.”
Polly and Mallory nodded. “Agreed.”
The three friends dropped their hands and hugged. “One for all, and all for one,” they whispered, binding their promise.
“Good, that is settled,” Mallory said, breaking free of her friends’ embrace. “Now, are you sure we didn’t need to bring any of our own snorkelling equipment?” Mallory asked, persistent in trying to stay positive, and only thinking about the future ahead of them instead of focusing on the debilitating past. The words to the song “Surfin’ Safari” played on in her head, regardless of her determination. God, how she hated that bloody song.
“Positive,” Polly replied. “Everything is supplied on board. So which one do you want, the blonde or the brunette?” she asked, elbowing Mallory gently in the ribs.
“I didn’t fly all this way from Canada to perv on guys. I’m here to perv on fish in the deep blue sea, and spend some quality time with my two best friends,” Mallory replied.
“Oh, come on,” Polly retorted. “That is what your twenties are for. To make terrible mistakes with terrible men so you’ll know when a good one comes along.”
“I had a good one,” Mallory replied. She looked at Elise and was amazed at how happy she looked under the circumstances, and how lovely she looked with her hair flying free, the golden sun illuminating the red highlights in her hair, and then wondered how she did it day after day. How did Elise cope with her loss? Do you still keep a photograph in your wallet? Mallory wanted to ask. Is that how you cope day after day? Or do you cry constantly on the inside, where nobody else can see your pain?
“Hey!” Elise shot, as though aware of Mallory’s thoughts, “No talking or thinking about the past, remember?” Threading her hand through the crook of Mallory’s arm, Elise gave her an assuring shake and a smile that lit up her entire face.
“Right,” Mallory said. “No talking or thinking about the past.” She looked skyward. “How bright is this sun?” she said, freeing herself from Elise’s arm to extract a pair of sunglasses from her backpack, and sliding them up the bridge of her nose to conceal the tears pooling in her eyes.
“Yes,” Polly said. “Make sure you put on plenty of sunscreen, otherwise you’ll burn to a crisp.”
“Yes, Mum,” Elise said playfully, pulling her hair back and twisting it into a bun at the nape of her neck.
“I’m serious, Elise. You especially should be careful with your fair skin. You should probably put a t-shirt on over your bathers while you’re snorkelling, and put plenty of sunscreen on the back of your legs, and neck.”
Elise screwed up her nose. “Are you kidding me? Cover up this magnificent body, and leave all the guys gawking at you. I don’t think so,” she said, waving a hand down her body. “Besides, I can’t go home to the U.K. without a tan; everyone will laugh at me. I’ll be the only girl who ever went holidaying to the sunny tropics and went home whiter than before.”
“Better everyone laugh at you for that, than go home and have everyone laugh at you for looking like a bloody, overcooked lobster,” Polly quipped. “But please yourself. Just don’t come crying to me when you can’t sit down for a week, that’s all I’m saying.”
Elise looked at Mallory, who had gone completely quiet. “Mallory, are you okay?” she asked.
“What?”
A fleeting glance passed between Polly and Elise. “Are you okay?” Polly asked this time.
“Of course I am. I’m just excited, that’s all. A whole day snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef with my two besties; who wouldn’t be excited about that?” What she really wanted to say was, Philip and I had planned to come here for a holiday together this year, and I was going to tell him about the baby. Our baby. “Oh, look, the line’s moving up. Come on, girls,” Mallory said instead, tugging on Polly’s arm with one hand, while holding on to her over-packed backpack with the other. “We don’t want to lose sight of the hotties.” She stepped forward, a faraway look in her eyes, an imaginary fist clenching her heart. “Surfin’ Safari.” “Surfin’ Safari.” “Surfin’ Safari…”
Philip had begged her to take this vacation. Got down on his knees and pleaded with her, telling her how exciting it would be. A short time later, after a visit to the doctor assuring her that it would be fine to go, Mallory had given in and had agreed to go to Australia to dive i
n the Great Barrier Reef. They could make the bookings online and be packed and on their way within weeks. They would go after Sky’s birthday party – God forbid they miss the party with all the planning that had gone into it and, with a baby on the way, she realized that they might not have another opportunity for such an adventurous holiday for quite some time.
Sky’s Hawaiian-themed birthday party was in full swing by the time Mallory and Philip arrived. Everyone was dressed appropriately in an array of brightly coloured Hawaiian shirts, board shorts, floral leis, bikinis, and grass skirts. It was as though they had stepped into an alternate universe as they peeled off their layers of warm clothing while watching pedestrians scurry by in the cold, wet weather outside in long, heavy coats with thick scarves, boots, gloves, and hoods pulled up securely over their heads. Umbrellas never stood a chance; turned inside out with the first gust of wind, they lay discarded in nearby trashcans along the sidewalk.
All day the snow, rain and wind had been coming in short, angry bursts. It was the kind of weather that made you want to stay at home, curl up on the sofa with a mug of hot chocolate while you watched a good movie and painted your toenails. And as much as Mallory had wanted so badly to do that, she knew she would be the worst person in the world for even suggesting it, although she had no doubts that the same thoughts had been running through Philip’s mind the moment he got up that morning, pulled back the drapes and looked outside over the snowdrifts piled high in the back yard. He had moaned, dropped the drapes, climbed back into bed and pulled the blankets over his head.
Mallory lifted the blankets over her head and snuggled up to Philip’s back. “What do you say we stay in bed all day? Only leave for sustenance.”
Philip turned to face Mallory and pulled her into him. “What about if I need to pee?”
Mallory smiled. “Yes, that too. You have my permission to get up if you need to pee.”
“Deal,” Philip murmured, his hands and lips trailing down her body. They made love, tender and slow, luxuriating in each other’s bodies until noon, and then only dragging themselves out of bed to pay the pizza boy, who had stood on the front door stoop, shivering in his boots.
About Three Authors Page 12